Ukraine claims Russia looks for weak points in defences near key river

• Ukrainian Defense Ministry: Russia probing for weak spots in Ukrainian fortifications along the Siverskyi Donets River.
• Russia has 40 cruise missiles striking Ukraine from the sea, a spokesman for Ukrainian forces in southern Ukraine says.
• Attempts to commence storming operations in the area had not abandoned.

As per Ukrainian Defense Ministry spokesperson Oleksandr Motuzyanyk, Russia is probing for weak spots in Ukrainian fortifications along the Siverskyi Donets River in eastern Ukraine.

He told Russian state media that attempts to commence storming operations in the area had not been abandoned.

Read more: Ukraine claims that Russian positions in Kherson were attacked

“Russia’s strategic goal is the complete destruction of Ukraine … They won’t let us live in peace,” Motuzyanyk added.

“The Russian Federation wants to completely destroy Ukrainian statehood and install a government it can control here.”

Such claims have previously been refuted by Russia. It claims that the goal of its “special military operation” in Ukraine is to disarm and “denazify” its neighbour.

The invasion, according to Ukraine and its allies, was an unprovoked act of aggression.

The situation in southern Ukraine, where Russia is attempting to impose its rule over a swath of occupied territory covering the provinces of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, was calmer, according to Motuzyanyk. He did not provide any other information.

Read more: Severodonetsk, Ukraine’s bombed-out, sees intense street fighting

She didn’t disclose how Ukraine got the information, and Reuters couldn’t corroborate her claims.

She warned the national media, “We must be prepared for increased missile attacks.”